Andy Schleck: Geraint Thomas is the only guy who could beat Chris Froome at this Tour
The 2010 Tour de France winner gives his view on who will win the 2017 edition of the race

Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas at the 2017 Tour de France

If Geraint Thomas was on another team, he would have a chance to beat his Team Sky team-mate and win the Tour de France, says former winner Andy Schleck.
>>> Rival teams braced for Richie Porte attack on first summit finish of Tour de France
Schleck saw the race off on stage four from his home town in Mondorf-les-Bains, Luxembourg. The peloton raced the stage back into France towards Vittel.
"It's up there," Schleck told Cycling Weekly. He pointed to his house just above the start village and then turned his attention back to the peloton and the favourites.
"With [Alejandro] Valverde's crash and abandon, the race is now back in team Sky's favour. Unfortunately, Geraint is in the wrong team because he's the guy who can beat Froome," he said.
"Porte is extremely strong, but every one knows that and is watching him very closely. Sky is watching him. Who is left? Aru and Fuglsang."
Perhaps fans could see a situation like 2012 with Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome, where the team helper is just as strong, if maybe stronger, than the captain.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"I don't say that, but if the was a team who just supported him, like Movistar, he'd be a real threat for Froome," Schleck added.
"Yeah [it would have been good to see Thomas change teams]. I'm happy for the team, I admire Thomas and Froome is a great champion and a friend.
"I wanted to see Thomas have a chance. I know, he re-signed, but that's a choice you have to make in life."
Schleck says the race swings in Sky's favour because they have the true two-pronged approach with Froome and Thomas.
"Honestly, it looks like Sky did everything right. Next to Froome and Sky, I think there's one team that can beat them, Astana. They have two cards to play with Fabio Aru and Jakob Fuglsang.
"Movistar has no Valverde. Before, Valverde was my favourite. To win the overall? Yeah, I observed him in the Tour of Catalonia and País Vasco. Normally he would be dropped on the very long climbs, but now he managed to drop the others.
"He managed to really step up. We only have three uphill finishes and Valverde is only weak in the high altitude, which was only two stages this year. He was my pick. I believe many experts would agree with me."
Followers will have their first understanding of the race's strongest riders with stage five, the 5.9km summit finish to La Planche des Belles Filles on Wednesday.
"It is very early in the Tour," said Schleck. "You still have a long way to the Alps and Pyrenees, but on the other hand, you can still say you have the yellow jersey on your shoulders. But if you want to win, maybe [stage five] is not the day."
Schleck took the 2010 Tour title after Alberto Contador lost the title due to a doping positive. He retried in 2014 after suffering injury in a crash on the way to London on the third stage of that year's Tour.
At 32 - the same age as Froome and just a year older than Thomas - Schleck now owns a bike shop and works for Tour organiser ASO at select races.
"I feel very honoured to be here," Schleck said.
"I made all the rounds with the television stations, seeing the journalists and old friends, but on the other hand, I'm happy to be retired. I'm very busy, I have a very full schedule every day. I miss it a little bit yes.."
"I'm in the shop every day, but I'm also president of the Tour of Luxembourg, so that's a big thing for us to organise, and I do eight events for ASO, so much in the Asian countries, but also in London and South Africa, where they do L'Étape du Tour."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
Can anyone stop Primož Roglič or Juan Ayuso from winning the Giro d’Italia?
Roglič and Ayuso's form suggest they are the two outright favourites for overall victory in Rome next month
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
How to watch Dwars door Vlaanderen 2025: Everything you need to live stream the cobbled Belgian Classic
All the information on broadcasters and live streams for Dwars door Vlaanderen on 2 April, as Wout van Aert, Mads Pedersen, Marianne Vos and Lotte Kopecky take on the cobbles.
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'An unprecedented opportunity for brands to be part of the evolution' - Ineos Grenadiers sponsor hunt steps up with sales agency partnership
Sportfive have been employed to find "non-endemic global partners for the team"
By Adam Becket Published
-
'We've all got a little bit extra in us this year' - Ineos Grenadiers recapture 'fighting spirit' with aggressive Paris-Nice display
British team continue to put tumultuous 2024 behind them with momentum and a new found mentality
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Could a TotalEnergies deal be the end of Ineos Grenadiers as we know them?
Reports suggested this week that Ineos could be close to signing a deal with the French petrochemical firm
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'They’re racing with their hearts again' - Robbie McEwen on Ineos Grenadiers' bright start to 2025
The British squad have already won four times in 2025
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers are entertaining so far this year, but how long will it last?
The British WorldTour squad have won four times already in 2025, but more than that, they have been fun. Is this the new dawn?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Caleb Ewan says he was put in a 'bad situation' by Jayco AlUla before he joined Ineos Grenadiers
Ewan joined Ineos Grenadiers in January after spending just one year with Jayco AlUla
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'There's no bull****, that's what I've always liked' - Geraint Thomas's first BC coach Rod Ellingworth on the retiring Welshman
The 2018 Tour de France winner will step away from professional cycling at the end of the season
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'It is time to change goals' - Egan Bernal's coach confirms Ineos Grenadiers exit
'I want to thank all the cyclists I have had the opportunity to coach over the past ten years' Xabier Artetxe says in LinkedIn post
By Tom Thewlis Published